Application
Not applicable.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements and Performance Criteria | |||
Element | Performance Criteria | ||
1 | Prepare for treatment of animals | 1.1 | Animals affected by infection or parasites are identified and the type and severity of infestation or infection is determined. |
1.2 | Type and scope of treatment is determined and prepared according to manufacturers specifications, OHS and industry codes of practice. | ||
1.3 | Equipment and materials required for the treatment of animals are prepared to manufacturers specifications and enterprise requirements. | ||
1.4 | Treatment site is prepared to industry standards according to enterprise requirements. | ||
1.5 | Existing and potential hazards in the workplace are recognised, risk assessed and controlled according to OHS requirements. | ||
2 | Treat animals | 2.1 | Suitable personal protective equipment is selected, used and maintained according to OHS requirements. |
2.2 | Animals are safely handled and restrained without causing harm or injury to animal or handler. | ||
2.3 | Treatment is administered hygienically and consistently according to manufacturers specifications, OHS and industry codes of practice. | ||
2.4 | Withholding periods are observed and treated animals are identified to ensure isolation from non-treated animals. | ||
2.5 | Animals are counted out, prepared and moved along a planned route without damage to person, property or environment. | ||
3 | Complete treatment process | 3.1 | Animal health and condition are monitored post-treatment and abnormalities reported according to enterprise requirements. |
3.2 | Environmental implications associated with the treatment of animals are identified, assessed and controlled according to enterprise requirements. | ||
3.3 | Equipment and worksite are cleaned and waste, including animal residues, is disposed of according to OHS and enterprise requirements. | ||
3.4 | Health treatments are stored to manufacturers recommendations, industry and enterprise requirements. | ||
3.5 | Relevant information is documented according to industry and enterprise requirements. |
Required Skills
Not applicable.
Evidence Required
What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole? Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to implement effective preventative health regimes for the control of parasites. It involves the ability to safely handle animals, determine the type and scope of treatment, observe withholding periods, and monitor animals for treatment effectiveness and abnormalities. Competence must be demonstrated in safe and positive environmental workplace practices. The skills and knowledge required must be transferable to another environment. For example, if competence is evident in carrying out a parasite control program for sheep, it must also be evident that these skills may be adapted to a program for goats and beef cattle. | |
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria? | Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below: application procedures and effects of veterinary chemicals types of health preparation treatments enterprise vaccination program and procedures identification of and prescribed treatments for infections and infestations livestock health and nutritional requirements types of parasite infestation and their symptoms grazing management strategies used in internal parasite control requirements for the preparation and transportation of faecal samples |
drenching equipment, drenches and their efficiency relevant codes of practice with regard to the safe use and handling of hazardous substances withholding periods for treated animals animal handling and restraint techniques OHS legislative requirements relevant codes of practice with regard to environmental protection. | |
What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria? | To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to: select and apply chemicals appropriate to treat infections and infestations collect faecal, tissue or blood samples for laboratory analysis samples treat rectal prolapse select and prepare livestock for culling arrange and co-ordinate equipment and resources weigh and drench livestock assemble, check and calibrate drenching equipment demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices provide due care and humanely handle animals return animals to prepared and clean environments identify the symptoms of parasite infestation read and interpret chemical and veterinary health labels, manufacturers specifications and MSDS communicate verbally with the work team and the manager calculate animal numbers and measure treatment dosage and rates. |
What processes should be applied to this competency standard? There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process. | |
1. How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied? | Information with regard to evidence of parasitic infection may be discussed and confirmed with veterinary medicine suppliers and animal health personnel. |
2. How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)? | Information on animal testing may be collected and organised by reports for future analysis of parasite control and management. |
3. How are activities planned and organised (2)? | The treatment process may be planned and co-ordinated with work schedules and timeframes or sequenced as required. |
4. How can team work (1) be applied? | In the application of methods and procedures to complete the treatment program within timeframes and deadlines. |
5. How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (1) be applied? | Mathematical techniques may be used to calculate treatment dosage and rates for the severity of the infection or infestation. |
6. How can problem-solving skills (1) be applied? | Problems of large infestations or disease outbreaks may be resolved by isolation procedures. |
7. How can the use of technology (2) be applied? | Technology may be used to communicate, source information and to estimate levels of infection or infestation. |
Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one? This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function. | |
There is essential information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. All users of these competency standards must have access to the Assessment Guidelines. Further advice may also be sought from the relevant sector booklet. |
Range Statement
Range of Variables The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work situations available | |
What types of animals may be covered by this standard? | This may include sheep, goats, pigs, dairy and beef cattle. |
What types of infections or parasites does this unit cover? | This may include lice, biting lice, sucking lice, ticks, blowfly, itch mite, mange, worms, bacteria, viruses or fluke. |
What factors may be considered in determining and preparing animal treatments? | This may include assessing the dosage and rates appropriate to the identified type and severity of infestation or infection, the selection of a chemical that doesn't cause fleece/fibre contamination and residues in milk. It may also involve checking the expiry dates on health preparations for validity. |
What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard? | Safe systems and procedures for: operation of equipment hazard and risk control handling animals including zoonoses control manual handling, including lifting and carrying protection from hazardous noise and organic and other dusts handling and storage of hazardous substances outdoor work including protection from solar radiation appropriate use of personal protective equipment. |
What range of equipment and materials may be prepared for use? | This may include syringes, antibiotics and vaccinations, drench guns, overhead gantry, yards, drenches, scales, races, gates, backpacks, faeces collection plastic bags, plastic globes, sample jars, portable coolers, kits supplied by the Department of Agriculture, hand shears, jetting hand piece, water pump, temporary yards, portable plunge dips, sharpening stone, jetting race, tanks, spray dips/shower dips, plunge dips and portable crutching equipment. Preparation may include the calibration of equipment to check accuracy of dose rates. |
What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard? | Standard operating procedures (SOPs), enterprise quality assurance manual, industry standards and quality assurance programs, Total Quality Management standards, product labels, manufacturers specifications, MSDS, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use) and reporting requirements. |
What may be involved in preparing the treatment site? | The place of treatment may include yards, plunge dips, jetting races, in paddock, in piggery, spray dips/shower dips. Preparation may involve cleaning and determining the method of site drainage. |
What existing and potential hazards may be encountered in the workplace? | Animal movement and handling, exposure to hazardous noise, dust and solar radiation and veterinarian chemicals, and zoonotic diseases. |
What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard? | This may include boots, hat/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, respirator or face mask, and sun protection. |
What might be involved in animal restraint procedures? | Procedures may involve the use of industry accepted animal restraint equipment in conjunction with safe and humane handling techniques. |
What may be involved in the preparation and movement of animals? | This may include giving animals time to settle post-treatment, conducting the move in a controlled and quiet manner to correct paddock or sickbay. |
What environmental implications may be relevant to this standard? | Negative environmental impacts may result from the unsafe use and disposal of veterinarian chemicals (dipping, jetting, parasite control) and any consequent residual chemicals. Impacts may also result from high concentrations of animals on ground cover causing run-off flows, loss of ground cover, soil disturbance, pugging, dust problems, weed seeds in animal manure, contamination of ground and surface water supplies, and odours. |
What type of animal residues may be disposed of? | This may include fly blown fleece, maggots and chemical residues. |
What storage requirements may be observed? | Storage requirements may include safety, access, warning signs, temperature control, and security for spillage. |
What relevant information might be recorded and reported? | This may include details of equipment and materials used, the performance of equipment, faults and malfunctions, number of treated livestock and details of treatment, any testing carried out and results, evaluation of treatment effectiveness and observed abnormalities or behaviour in livestock. |
For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment, refer to the Sector Booklet. | |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
Not applicable.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.